The Watkins Family
Information researched by Mabel Watkins Mayer
In May 1881, John and Ann Evans Watkins, along with their eight children, left their bleoved Wales to migrate to the United States.
They went by train from Wales to Liverpool, England, where they boarded a passenger ship named SS City of Brussels, with Master Henry Condron. The ship weighed 3,434 tons. The shipo left port May 16 1881. The ship took on 300 Irish at Queenstown, Ireland. All were steerage passengers.
The Captain's List (which contains many errors) read:
John Watkins ,45, Male, Farmer
Annie Watkins ,43, Female, Wife, (really 42)
Margt, 17, Spinster, (really 19)
John ,15, Male, Laborer, (really 17)
Marian, 11, Female child (Mary Ann was 15)
Jessie, 10 Femial child, (Male 12)
Gwen 9, Female child, (really 10)
David, 8, Male child, (really 7)
William, 5, Male child
Hezekiah, 4, Male (really Keziah, a female)
Also, Cousin John Evans, 49, Male, Carpenter
Eliza Evans, 50, Female, Wife
William, 26, Male
L?, 21, Male (Should be a John and Thomas )
Jane, 7, Female Spinster (Really Jennie Arnold)
Ann, 14, Female Spinster
James, 19, Male, Laborer
Another John Watkins was aboard 29 m Laborer (unknown if there is any relationship)
For the Journey, Grandma Ann had to bring along enough food for all her family to alst two weeks, clothing likewise, and anything else they could crowd in. Papa (John Elias Watkins, oldest son) said the fare for all was $1,000, at least. The landed May 31, 1881 at Castle Gardens, New York. They took a street car across town and caught a train to Van Buren County, Iowa, near Bonaparte, Mount Sterling and Keosauqua. Here the parents lived the rest of their lives.
On August 8, 1881, Rosabella was born and on August 11, 1881, young William died. All the children married later except David. By 1907, Grandma Ann had died and grandpa by 1917. By 1957, all the children had died. By 1981, as nearly as I (Mabel Watkins Mayer) know there are 12 grandchildren out of 31 alive; 31 greatgrandchildren alive out of 39 and 83 great-greatgrandchildren alive out of 86.
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Grandpa John Watkins' Welsh Bible:
Bibl Cyssegr-lan, Sef Yr Hen Destament A'r Neryyd
Castell Newydd Ar Y Tyne: Adam A'I' Gyf (terfyno), 4, Clavering Place Hefyd Yn Rhif, 14, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, Llundain. (no date)
Family Register
John Watkins was born March 7, 1836
Ann Watkins was born Dec 10, 1839
Children's Names
Margaret Watkins was born Nov 18, 18612
John Elias Watkins was born Oct 24 1863
Maryann Watkins was born Oct 30, 1866
Jesse Watkins was born June 29, 1869
Gwen Watkins was born July 13, 1871
David Watkins was born May 16, 1873
William Watkins was born June 5, 1874
Kezia Watkins was born August 23, 1876
Rosabella Watkins was born Aug. 8, 1881
Marriages
Archie William Courtney was married to Kezia E. Watkins Aug. 27th 1900?
Henry E. Sheets married to Rose Watkins Sept 23rd, 1903
John B. Hales was married to Margaret Watkins Oct 1 1884
John E. Watkins was married to Ollie Chadwick March 27th 1889
William Armstrong was married to Gwen Watkins Feb 1st 1891
Arthur Chadwick was married to Mary A. Watkins Feb 10 1891
Jesse Watkins married to Hilma S. Nelson Dec. 24th 1900
John E. Watkins and Mary Williamson married March 11th 1896
Deaths
William Watkins died Aug 11th 1881
Ollie Watkins died Feb 6 1890
Mrs Ann Watkins died May 20th 1907
Mr. John Watkins died May 7th 1917
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Notes from Mary Sterbenz: John Watkins (1763-1843) I have another chart that says 1775-1840, lived in Bleancallen, Breconshire, Wales. He lies buried at Cwmtavchen. He wife, Margaret Thomas (widow of William Thomas, whose child Ann Thomas, married Elias Watkins). Mary (half-sister of Elias married John Davis to whom were born three children; Mary, John and Sam. John later migrated to America. The others lived in Rymy, Glamorganshire, Wales.
Greatgrandpa Watkins raised sheep in Wales. The Queen of England kissed John Elias when he was a young boy. The men had sheep shearings like the women had quilting bees.
John Watkins came to John F. Watkins on the road straight south of Keosauqua, Iowa. John F. allowed them to lived in his brand new barn. Later John Watkins got a job managing a farm which was west of where he lived.